"Bridging the Healthcare Gap: How Telemedicine is Transforming the Healthcare Environment" - April Healthcare Forum Summary
Waycross, GA (PRWEB) May 10, 2016 -- The PMI Atlanta Healthcare Forum for April was treated to an engaging presentation by Sherrie Williams, Executive Director for Georgia Partnership for Telehealth (GPT), the leading agency in Georgia focused on increasing access to healthcare through the innovative use of technology including telemedicine, health information exchange and telehealth. Ms. Williams strategically developed and implemented Georgia’s first school-based health center (SBHC) that utilized telemedicine as a way to close resource gaps. Additionally, she has worked with more than 77 schools in Georgia and Tennessee to open SBHCs in both rural and urban areas.
The presentation began with an eye-opening and skin-tingling demo highlighting how telemedicine technology is leveraged in medical facilities and how GPT has made a tremendous impact on the future of patient care, from nursing homes to correctional facilities to school-based health centers. The presentation further detailed the programmatic services that GPT provides as well as the areas of care that have most benefited from telemedicine.
Through services such as program consultation, 24/7 technical support, dedicated telehealth liaison and equipment guidance and installation, among others, GPT has delivered improved access to care, reduced cost in managing populations with chronic diseases, reduced hospital readmissions and improved patient outcomes at many facilities.
Demonstrating the impact of GPT’s programs, in 2011, they helped avoid 160 emergency room visits, resulting in savings of $480,000. Also, out of 40,009 encounters, a random sample showed an average patient travel savings of 124 miles per encounter, with an estimated savings of $762,027 in fuel alone.
As might be imagined, there were many hands raised and eager questions prompted by the demo, followed by thorough, informative responses from Ms. Williams. Once she concluded her presentation, emcee Gray Terry thanked her, as well as the PMI Atlanta Health Forum participants and Philips, the host of this month’s forum.
Please join the Healthcare Forum for our next event on Wednesday, May 18, 2016, from 6:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. The Healthcare Forum and Technology Forum are combining next month to bring you another fantastic presentation by Keith Farley, Director, Innovation Delivery Office, Aflac Worldwide Headquarters.
Article By: Lasondria Hill
Source:http://www.pmiatlanta.org/resources/announcements/928-bridging-the-healthcare-gap-how-telemedicine-is-transforming-the-healthcare-environment-april-healthcare-forum-summary
For more information on GPT, please visit http://www.gatelehealth.org/.
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About Georgia Partnership for TeleHealth
Georgia Partnership for TeleHealth is a charitable nonprofit corporation, which was formed to promote improvements in healthcare and healthcare facilities in communities by assisting in the establishment of telemedicine programs. GPT is known as the leading agency globally focusing on increasing access to healthcare through innovative use of technology. GPT is one of the entities that belong to the Global Partnership for TeleHealth.
The mission of the Global Partnership for TeleHealth is to deliver worldwide access to healthcare. Our unparalleled success in the United States in applying telehealth programs and services has assisted agencies in providing cost effective, efficient, and high quality healthcare. For more information, visit the GPT website at http://www.gatelehealth.org/.
Sherrie Williams, Georgia Partnership for TeleHealth, Inc., http://www.gatelehealth.org, 866-754-4325, [email protected]
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